Brown Rice: The Ultimate Weeknight Wonder Food - Pawonation

No matter if you're aiming to adopt a healthier diet or want to switch things up from your usual routine, rice Rotation, mastering the technique to prepare a flawless batch of brown rice is a crucial ability. Once you nail this easy recipe, you'll start effortlessly making pots of it as a side dish. dinner every weeknight .

In contrast to white rice from which the bran and germ have been removed, brown rice retains the entire unprocessed grain. As such, it takes more time to soften during cooking and needs additional liquid. Should you be interested in understanding the various health advantages of white vs. brown rice , take a look at my article; otherwise continue reading to discover how to prepare the ideal batch of brown rice.

How to Prepare Brown Rice

Cooking brown rice doesn't have to be complicated; however, there are some important steps to remember. The subsequent recipe has been crafted to produce mildly flavored, light and airy brown rice, ideal as a side for nearly any meal of your choosing.

While working on this recipe, I discovered that people have very firm views on how they want their rice prepared. Don’t hesitate to tweak the quantity of salt according to what suits your taste—begin by modifying it by 1/4 teaspoon as needed. Additionally, if you enjoy your rice being more sticky, try combining the rice with the salted water from the outset and bringing them both to a boil simultaneously instead of pouring in the rice after the water starts boiling. Using this "cold water technique" yields rice that clumps together somewhat more compared to when each grain remains separate and fluffy.

INGREDIENTS

• Rice: This recipe has been specially designed for long-grain brown rice. Given that it is a whole grain, brown rice needs more time to cook and demands additional water compared to white rice, which undergoes greater processing. Should you be looking to prepare white rice instead, you can locate the instructions for making an excellent batch of it right here.
• Kosher Salt: I like to use Diamond Crystal kosher salt because the particle size allows for more even seasoning with less risk of overdoing it. If all you have is Morton salt, I suggest using roughly half the quantity specified in your recipe.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Begin by washing the rice to eliminate any exterior grit. An efficient method is to place the rice in a fine-mesh strainer, position it beneath a faucet, and let cool water flow over it as you stir with your hand. Keep rinsing until the runoff becomes transparent.

At the same time, take a small saucepan and mix together 1 3/4 cups of water with half a teaspoon of salt. Place this mixture over high heat until it starts boiling. Add washed brown rice to the pan once it comes back to a gentle simmer after you've added the rice. Reduce the flame to low and put the lid on the pan. Allow the rice to cook without being disturbed for about 35 minutes, or until it reaches your desired tenderness level—soft yet firm rather than soggy.

Take the pot of rice off the stove, carefully lift the lid, and replace it with a fresh kitchen towel or paper towel. Put the lid back on top of the towel to keep everything sealed, then allow the rice to rest undisturbed for 10 minutes. This step helps soak up extra moisture inside the pot using the towel, leading to lighter, more separated grains. Once those 10 minutes have passed, discard the towel and lid, use a fork to loosen the rice, and proceed to serve.

The complete list of ingredients along with the instructions can be found in the recipe. below .

Recipe Tips

• For optimal cooking, leave the rice untouched as it simmers; however, if you're concerned about overcooking and desire confirmation, you can lift the lid during the final moments of preparation and sample a couple of grains from the surface.
• Various burners come with varying power levels. For cooking this rice, opt for using the one with the least strength. Should your burner happen to be excessively potent, leading to quicker evaporation of water before the rice is fully cooked, simply pour in an additional couple of tablespoons of water into the pan and let it simmer gently again at a reduced temperature setting. In case the base gets burnt, there’s no cause for concern; just keep the charred part undisturbed and serve only the upper portion of the rice. As long as it doesn’t impart a burned flavor, it should still be safe to consume!

Variations

• How to cook rice If whole grains aren’t appealing, consider using white rice as an alternative.
• Instant pot rice Reduce the cooking time by preparing rice using your Instant Pot.
• Coconut rice If you're seeking a more decadent option, consider trying this whitesticky rice flavored with coconut milk.

Storage

Rice is typically at its peak when freshly cooked, but should you wish to save some, you may keep it in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to five days. The rice might become drier during refrigeration, so to restore moisture, sprinkle a bit of water over it. Then cover it with a paper towel and heat it in the microwave until warm again.

Yields: 3 cups

Prep Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• 1 c.

  long-grain brown rice

• 1/2 tsp.

  kosher salt

Directions

1. Transfer rice into a fine-mesh strainer. Place the strainer under cold running water in the sink, and stir the rice gently with your clean hand until the water becomes clear. Stop the faucet and carefully shake the strainer to remove excess water. Leave the rice-filled strainer aside for further use.
2. In a medium-sized pot placed over high heat, bring 1 3/4 cups of water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, add some salt, followed by pouring the rice directly from the colander into the pot, gently nudging any remaining grains with a flexible silicone spatula to ensure they all make it in.
3. Bring back to a simmer, then lower the heat to medium-low, cover, and let it cook gently without disturbance until all the water has been absorbed, which should take around 35 minutes.
4. Take the pot off the heat, lift the lid, and cover it with a fresh kitchen towel or paper towel instead. Put the lid back on top of the towel and allow everything to sit for 10 minutes to let the steam do its work.
5. Stir with a fork and then serve.

Dishes You Can Prepare Using Extra Cooked Rice

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